[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14945]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE WINNERS AND PARTICIPANTS OF THE 2010 CROSSFIT GAMES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SULLIVAN

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 30, 2010

  Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise 
today to honor the winners and participants of the 2010 CrossFit Games 
held in Carson, California from July 16 to July 18, 2010.
  CrossFit was created in the mid-80s by former gymnast Greg Glassman. 
When it was first introduced, it was a completely different form of 
physical training that was developed to enhance an individual's 
competency at all physical tasks and functional movements in everyday 
life. Greg Glassman moved to Santa Cruz, California, in 1995, and he 
and wife Lauren Glassman opened the first independent CrossFit gym 
there in 1999. Since then, CrossFit has expanded to about 1,900 
affiliated gyms worldwide, with each operating as its own independent 
small business.
  While at first, the concepts and training associated with CrossFit 
seem to be aimed for the elite athlete, military special operations 
units, police academies and tactical operations teams, the fact that it 
has grown so much so quickly is a testament to CrossFit's ideology that 
the needs of the average person, like myself, and the Olympic athlete 
differ by degree not kind. This is especially important today, when my 
state of Oklahoma and our nation faces an obesity epidemic that is not 
only straining our health care system, but causing chronic health 
conditions like diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The medical 
benefits, increased self confidence, and stress reduction that can come 
from athletic activity help contribute to a healthier, more productive 
Oklahoma and nation.
  There is no better test of all around fitness, not focusing on one 
single type of event, than the CrossFit Games, where multiple and 
varied workouts are held each day over a three day competition. The 
workouts over the duration of each day are not announced until a few 
hours before each event which means that the athletes are training for 
a competition whose format is almost completely a mystery. One of the 
workouts in this year's Games was the following:
  Event 2a--For time (22 min cap): run 1,200 meters, 63 kettlebell 
swings (55/36 lbs.), 36 pull-ups, run 800 meters, 42 kettlebell swings 
(55/36 lbs.), 24 pull-ups, run 400 meters, 21 kettlebell swings (55/36 
lbs.), and 12 pull-ups.
  Event 2b--Within 90 seconds of completing Event 2a: 1 rep max 
Shoulder-to-Overhead.
  Approximately 4000 men and women initially entered the preliminary 
events earlier this year to not only competing for a spot in the Games 
but to challenge oneself. The large number of contenders eventually 
narrowed down to 45 men and 41 women competing for the claim as the 
fittest in the world. Every single individual competitor, masters 
athlete and affiliate team earned the right to compete through old-
fashioned hard work and dedication to physical fitness.
  I.want to congratulate the winners of the individual competition, who 
can now say they are among the fittest athletes in the world, Graham 
Holmberg from New Albany, Ohio and Kristan Clever from Sherman Oaks, 
California. Both athletes not only exhibited great skill, but gut-
wrenching effort that ultimately put them on top. They are an 
inspiration to all that hard work pays off in the end.
  I would also like to congratulate the affiliate team winner of the 
Games, CrossFit Fort Vancouver, as well as the masters category 
individual competition winners Laurie Carver and Brian Curley.
  Finally, I would like to congratulate my hometown gym in Tulsa, 
Oklahoma, CrossFit Sky, that competed in the affiliate completion and 
finished 30th. I witnessed firsthand all the hard work and dedication 
that ultimately granted them a spot in the Games. The members of 
CrossFit Sky's affiliate team are Amy Quimby, Hollace Fugate, Mandy 
Malloy, Sean Malloy, Brian Head, Tom Sharp, Aaron Fugate and Mike 
Quimby.
  The CrossFit Games are only a small part of CrossFit as a whole which 
is ultimately spreading the desire to make oneself live a healthier and 
more productive lifestyle. It is available to everyone, not just elite 
athletes. The same concepts behind CrossFit used to train elite 
athletes can be used for people of all ages to help them reach their 
fitness goals. Tony Budding from CrossFit headquarters couldn't have 
said it any better, ``CrossFit is really about helping others achieve 
their goals. For even the top athletes, their achievements are 
temporary, whereas the impact we make on others is lasting.''
  I rise today not only to honor these great athletes who have not only 
achieved the ultimate success of being named among the fittest in the 
world, but to celebrate the sport of fitness in general. In an era when 
we are faced with less time for physical activity and the temptation 
and convenience of unhealthy food, it is important for all Americans to 
take simple steps to live long and better lives, especially considering 
the obesity epidemic facing my state of Oklahoma and our Nation. I 
believe CrossFit is helping in this fight against obesity and I 
challenge all Americans to challenge themselves to live a healthier 
lifestyle.

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